Sliding panel assembly



Aug. 23, 1966 J. s. GREENBERG SLIDING PANEL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-$heet 1Filed Oct. '7, 1964 Mw R m \H ZJvE mvwmw R m w m Nfi T 5 w w v e 3 2M m4 [0B 4. 7 L

4 g 3 M, C A/ u d j Aug. 23', 1966 J. s. GREENBERG SLIDING PANELASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1964 ATTORNEYS \i am mwm m3 Qmiuw wJ mm ww mwm uwm United States Patent 3,268,285 SLIDING PANELASSEMBLY Jerome S. Greenherg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wells- GardnerElectronics Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois FiledOct. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 402,186 11 Claims. (Cl. 312295) The presentinvention relates to a sliding panel assembly intended primarily as atop for radio-phonograph cabinets but useable otherwise and elsewhere.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of asupporting frame structure and adjacent panels, such as top panels,which are substantially coplanar so as to abut in a first or closedposition and at least one of which is movable from the first position toa second or open position to the side or below the second panel, wherebythe panels constitute a flush top surface in the closed position and oneof which opens to provide access as to an instrument compartment in itsopen position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved assembly of the character set forth above including flexibletracks for receiving and holding the edges of the movable panel in itsfirst position and guiding the panel in its movement between its closedand open positions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anassembly as set forth above in which the ends of the tracks remote fromthe junction of the two panels are simply secured to a frame structureas by nailing them in a manner to permit slight pivotal movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedsliding panel assembly in which the movable panel is slidably mountedupon flexible track structure and is biased to its closed flush positionby spring means acting upon the tracks.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of theassembly as set forth above in which the movable panel is slidablysupported in opposed tracks and the tracks are movable in a first pairof slots in the frame structure and a second and inclined pair of slotsis provided underneath the second or relatively stationary panel forreception of the panel in its retracted position and in which,furthermore, the tracks and slots in the frame structure are constructedand arranged to minimize warping of the movable panel in both its closedand open positions, thus making it possible to use relatively thinpanels in the construction of the cabinet top. The use of thin panelsresults in, among other things, a savings in the construc tion of thecabinet.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a slidingpanel assembly with related structure including a movable cabinetportion enabling the sliding panel to be inserted into the assembly aswell as removed therefrom after assembly, should occasion arise forrepair or the like.

In brief, the sliding panel assembly of the invention includes a framestructure adapted to constitute the top of a cabinet. Supported on theframe structure are a pair of panels, at least one of which is movable,and which are arranged to be substantially coplanar with each other andwith the top of the frame structure and arranged to abut in the closedposition of the panels. One of the panels is movable from its first andclosed position to a second and retracted open position to a side of orunderneath the fixed panel. The frame structure includes a pair ofslightly inclined grooves underneath the fixed panel closely to receivethe edges of the slidable panel in its retracted position, thereby toprevent warpage of the panel in its latter position. The track structureincludes also a second pair of grooves for receiving the edges of thepanel during its movement between open and closed positions.

Patented August 23, 1966 The edges of the panel are mounted in opposedflexible tracks mounted in the second pair of grooves and the latter areof transverse widths sufficient to permit movement of the panel andtracks so as to enable the panel readily to be moved into the inclinedslot underneath the fixed panel without any undue binding of the movablepanel during its movement and without the necessity in having closedimensioning tolerances in the slot or groove structures. The flexibletracks engaging the edges of the panel are biased upwardly into closedposition of the panel by spring means engaging the tracks wherebyfrictional forces on the panel and wear of the panel are eliminated.Further to prevent warpage, an end of the panel is also received in agroove in the frame structure in the closed position of the panel. Thetracks are made of suitable plastic material such as expandedpolyethylene and they are generally U-shaped in section so as to embracethe edge portions of the panel. Cellulose acetate butyrate or nylon maybe used. The tracks are sufiiciently flexible to permit some transversemovement of the slidable panel so that it can readily enter the groovesunder the fixed panel. They are, however, also relatively stiff so as tohold the edges of the panel against substantial warpage. Also, thecabinet is provided with a removable strip or crosspiece at one end topermit insertion as well as removal of the sliding panel with respect tothe assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description of an illustrative embodimentthereof in the course of which reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a radiophonograph cabinetembodying the present invention and in which the movable panel is shownsubstantially in its fully open position in which it is retractedunderneath a second or relatively stationary panel;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the movable panel in itsclosed position and coplanar with its associated second and stationarypanel, thereby to provide a flush cabinet top construction;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary transverse views taken along thelines 33 of FIG. 7 and 4-4 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross sectional view ofthe right end of the assembly with the movable panel generally in theposition illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view taken along theline 6-6 of FIG. 3 and illustrating details of one of the two springsutilized to bias the movable panel to its closed flush position;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are longitudinal cross sectional views taken along theline 77 of FIG. 11 and illustrating the movable panel in threepositions: the first of which is its closed and flush position; thesecond an intermediate position; and the third the fully open position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end elevational view along the line 10-40 ofFIG. 7 illustrating details of a removable cabinet part through whichthe sliding panel may be inserted in and removed from the frameassembly; and- FIG. 11 is a view of the underside of the assembly withthe movable panel in closed position and taken along the line =1111 ofFIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the sliding panel assembly of the presentinvention is indicated as forming the top of a phonograph cabinet,indicated as a whole by reference character 10. The cabinet 10 includesa lower compartment defining structure 12 and the sliding panel assemblyis indicated as a whole by reference character 14.

The panel assembly includes a generally rectangular frame structure 16and a pair of panels 20 and 22, of which at least one, such as the panel22, is movable relative to the other between closed and open positions.The frame 16 includes front and rear longitudinal frame elements 16A and16B and left and right side frame elements 16C and 16D. The four frameelements are secured together in suitable fashion to form with thepanels a flush top surface when the panel 22 is in its closed position.

In the closed position of panel 22, the two panels are flush with eachother and the frame 16, as indicated best in FIGS. 2 and 7. In its openor retracted position, the panel 22 is disposed underneath the fixedpanel 20, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9, so as to provide accessto a compartment 24 at the upper side of the cabinet 12 to makeaccessible a record player 26, illustrated only in FIG. 1.

Movement of the sliding panel between its closed and open positions, aswell as retention of the movable panel in a manner to minimize warpingthereof in the closed position, is facilitated by mounting the front andrear edges of the panel in opposed substantially U-shaped flexibleplastic front and rear tracks A and 30B extending from the right end ofthe frame to adjacent the fixed panel 20. These tracks are generallyU-shaped in section so that the top and bottom sides closely embrace thefront and rear narrowed edges 22A and 22B of the movable panel 22.

v In order to provide for desired movement of the panel 22 so that itmay more readily be moved underneath the fixed panel, the tracks 30 arenot only flexible transversely but they are mounted in fairly widegrooves 32A and 32B formed in the innersides of the right ends of thelongitudinal frame elements 16A and 163. The grooves 32A and 32B aremilled at the insides of the front and rear frame elements 16A and 16B.The grooves include top surfaces 32C and bottom surfaces 32D (seeespecially FIG. 7) of which the latter is about one half the length ofthe former to enable the movable panel to be moved downwardly for readyentry into slots under the fixed panel. The ends of the tracks remotefrom the junction of the panels are pivotally secured to the frameelements 16A and 16B as by nails 33 driven through the bights of thetracks (see FIG. 5). Warpage of the movable panel 22 is prevented alsoby having a narrowed end 220 of the panel enter a groove 1613 (see FIG.5) in the end frame element 16D in the closed position of the panel.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the sliding panel22 is maintained in its flush closed position by a pair of spring means34 engaging the undersides of the tracks 30 near the ends of the latteradjacent the fixed panel, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and -6. Thesprings have one end 43A bearing against the underside of an associatedtrack, a fixed end 34B entering into a hole in the associatedlongitudinal frame element (see FIG. 6) and an intermediate coiledportion 340 around a screw 34D. As a result of having the springs bearagainst the track, friction upon and possible wear of the underside ofthe panel is minimized. Also, more uniform movement of the movable panelis made possible.

In its retracted open position, the sliding panel is received inopposedslightly inclined grooves underneath the stationary panel 20. Thegrooves 40 are milled partly into the frame elements 16A and 16B andinto supports 41 secured underneath the frame members 16A and 16B, seepartciularly FIGS. '3, 4 and 7. The grooves are dimensioned relativelyclosely to receive the narrow edges 22A and 22B of the sliding panel.Each of the grooves 40 is provided with a bottom surface 40A thatextends to a point below the tracksand inner edges of the sliding panelin its closed position (see FIGS. 6 and 7), whereby the movable panelrests on the bottoms 40A of the grooves when it is depressed formovement to its retracted position, whereby is can readily enter theslot. The engagement of the edges of the movable panel with the slotstructure prevents warpage of the panel in its retracted position. Also,the inner end of the panel is provided with a transverse supportingstrip 42 which serves at all times to prevent warpage of the inner end.The strip also engages the undeside of the fixed panel in the closedposition of the movable panel, as illustrated in FIG. 7, therebydetermining the flush position of the movable panel.

The extreme retracted position of the movable panel 22 is determined asby a felt or other resilient stop 44, which may be secured to the insideof the cabinet part 46, see FIGS. 7 through 11.

The movable panel is adapted to be inserted into the top assembly aswell as to be removed from the assembly subsequent to manufacture uponremoval of the cabinet part 46. The part 46, referring to FIGS. 7 to 11,is a transverse crosspiece extending between end posts A and 50B andseated on top of an end panel 52 and which may be notched as illustratedat 50C to receive the panel 22, if such 'be required by the width of thepanel. The crosspiece is secured to the underside of frame piece 16C asby the screws 54. Once the panel has been inserted into place thecrosspiece 46 can be placed and secured in position. To remove it atsome later time to permit removal of the panel, all that is necessary isthat the screws 54 be loosened so that the crosspiece can be removed. Ifdesired, a crosspiece similar to 46 may be used at the right end of thecabinet for purposes of symmetry.

To facilitate movement of panel 22, it is provided with a finger cupnear its right end.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the presentinvention will be apparent from the above detailed description. sem-blyis adapted to be constructed as described and then assembled on andattached to the top of the cabinet. Generally, the assembly is securedprior to placement of the panel 22 in place so that the latter can befinished separately from the remainder of the cabinet. To place thesliding panel 22 in position it is inserted on to the grooves 40 throughthe space provided by the crosspiece 46. Once the panel is placed inposition, the cross piece 46 is assembled in place, thereby to close thecabinet structurev Assuming that the movable panel 22 is in itsindicated position flush with the fixed panel, all that is required toopen the cabinet is to depress the end of panel 22 adjacent panel 20 andthen move the panel 22 as by moving it to the left through a finger cup60. It will be noted that the depression of the movable panel 22 isagainst the force of springs 34, which maintain the panel in its flushposition. The panel 22 slides in the tracks 30, which are flexible andpivot slightly so that the movable panel can more readily orientateitself to move into alignment with and readily enter into the grooves 40underneath the stationary panel 20.

The movable panel is prevented from Warping by .its front and rear edgesbeing received in the track 30 and its end edge 22C being received ingroove 16E in frame members 16D. The end adjacent the fixed panel isprevented from Warping by the strip 42, which also determines the flushposition of the movable panel, which it does upon engagement of theunderside of the fixed panel 20.

Should it become necessary to remove panel 22, the crosspiece 46 can beremoved and'then panel 22 can he slid out of the cabinet.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with thedetails of an illustrative embodiment, it should be understood thatthese details are not intended to be limitative of the invention exceptinsofar as set tforth'in the accompanying claims.

However, in brief, the frame as- What is claimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are substantially coplanar so as to abut in a first positionand at least one of which is movable from its first coplanar position toa second position generally to one side of the second panel, saidstructure including opposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of saidone panel in said second position, and means slidably mounting said onepanel for movement between its two positions including opposed flexibletracks receiving the said edges of said one panel in its first positionand during movement between its two positions.

2. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis movable from its first coplanar position to a second positiongenerally to one side of the second panel, said structure includingopposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panel in saidsecond position, and means slidably mounting said one panel for movementbetween its two positions including opposed tracks closely embracing thesaid edges of said one panel in its first position and during movementbetween its two positions, said tracks being somewhat flexibletransversely and the portions thereof embracing the edges of the panelbeing sufficiently rigid to prevent any substantial warping of theedges.

3. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis movable from its first coplanar position to a second positiongenerally to one side of the second panel, said structure includingopposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panel in saidsecond position, means slidably mounting said one panel for movementbetween its two positions including opposed flexible tracks receivingthe said edges of said one panel in its first position and duringmovement between its two positions, and spring means biasing said tracksand panel toward its first position.

4. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis movable from its first coplanar position to a second positiongenerally to one side of the second panel, said structure includingopposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panel in saidsecond position, means slidably mounting said one panel for movementbetween its two positions including opposed flexible tracks receivingthe said edges of said one panel in its first position and duringmovement between its two positions, said tracks having an end remotefrom the junction of the two panels movably secured to the framestructure, and spring mean-s biasing the ends of the tracks adjacent thejunction of the panels to move the one panel toward its first position.

5. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first :position and at least one of whichis movable from its first coplanar position to a second positiongenerally to one side of the second panel, said structure includingopposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panel in saidsecond position, and means slidably mounting said one panel {formovement between its two positions including opposed flexible tracksreceiving the said edges of said one panel in its first position andduring movement between its two positions, said opposed groovesincluding bottom portions extending underneath the tracks.

6. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis longitudinally movable from its first coplanar position to .a secondposition generally to one side of the second panel, said structureincluding opposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panelin said second position, and means slidably mounting said one panel formovement between its two positions including opposed flexible tracksreceiving the said edges of said one panel in its first position andduring movement between its two positions, said frame structureincluding first opposed grooves at said one side of the second panelclosely receiving the edges of the movable panel in its second positionand relatively wider and second opposed grooves for receiving the tracksand permitting transverse movement of the tracks and movable panel sothat the movable panel can be aligned with the first grooves forlongitudinal movement therein.

7. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis longitudinally movable from its first coplanar position to a secondposition generally to one side of the second panel, said structureincluding opposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panelin said second position, and means slidably mounting said one panel formovement between its two positions including opposed flexible tracksreceiving the said edges of said one panel in its first position andduring movement'between its two positions, said frame structureincluding first and slightly inclined opposed grooves at said one sideof the second panel closely receiving the edges of the movable panel inits second position and relatively wider and second opposed grooves forreceiving the tracks and permitting transverse movement of the tracksand movable panel so that the movable panel can be aligned with thefirst grooves for longitudinal movement therein.

8. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis longitudinally movable from its first coplanar position to a secondposition generally to one side of the second panel, said structureincluding opposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panelin said second position, means slidably mounting said one panel formovement between its two positions including opposed flexible tracksreceiving the said edges of said one panel in its first position andduring movement between its two positions, said frame structureincluding first opposed grooves at said one side of the second panelclosely receiving the edges of the movable panel in its second positionand relatively wider and second opposed grooves for receiving the tracksand permitting transverse movement of the tracks and movable panel sothat the movable panel can be aligned with the first grooves forlongitudinal movement therein, andspring means disposed in proximity tothe junction of the panels in the first position for biasing the tracksand the panel supported thereby toward its first position.

9. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis longitudinally movable from its first coplanar position to a secondposition generally to one side of the second panel, said structureincluding opposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panelin said second position, and means slidably mounting said one panel -formovement between its two positions including opposed flexible tracksreceiving the said edges of said one panel in its first position andduring movement bet-ween its two positions, said frame structureincluding first opposed grooves at said one side of the second panelclosely receiving the edges of the movable panel in its second positionand relatively wider and second opposed grooves for receiving the tracksand permitting transverse movement of the tracks and movable panel sothat the movable panel can be aligned with the first grooves forlongitudinal movement therein, the end edge of the one panel beingnarrowed and the frame having a groove closely receiving the said endedge of the panel when the latter is in its closed position.

10. A sliding panel assembly including a frame structure and a pair ofpanels that are coplanar in a first position and at least one of whichis longitudinally movable from its first coplanar position to a secondposition generally to one side of the second panel, said structureincluding opposed grooves for receiving opposed edges of said one panelin said second position, and means slidably mounting said one panel formovement between its two positions including opposed fleXib-le tracksreceiving the said edges of said one panel in its first position andduring movement between its two positions, said frame structureincluding first opposed grooves at said one side of the second panelclosely receiving the edges of the movable panel in its second positionand relatively Wider and second opposed grooves for receiving the tracksand permiting transverse movement of the tracks and movable panel sothat the movable panel can be aligned with the first grooves forlongitudinal movement therein, spring means for biasing the movablepanel toward its coplanar position, and the one panel having atransverse strip at its underside engageable with the underside of thefixed panel for determining the first position of the movable panel.

11. A cabinet construction including an end wall and a sliding panelassembly adapted to be seated on the top of the cabinet, said slidingpanel assembly including a pair of panels, at least one of which ismovable relative to the second, said one panel being movable to aretracted position underneath the second panel, and said cabinetincluding a removable crosspiece at one end which, when removed,provides a space through which said movable panel can be removed fromthe assembly. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,325,721 8/1943Visser 220-41 X 2,338,192 1/1944 Martin 220 41 2,768,047 11/1956 Strauss312 242 2,980,484 9/1961 Pifer 312 319 FOREIGN PATENTS 398,819 9/1933Great Britain.

20 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SLIDING PANEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FRAME STRUCTURE AND A PAIR OFPANELS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR SO AS TO ABUT IN A FIRST POSITIONAND AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS MOVABLE FROM ITS FIRST COPLANAR POSITION TOA SECOND POSITION GENERALLY TO ONE SIDE OF THE SECOND PANEL SAIDSTRUCTURE INCLUDING OPPOSED GROOVES FOR RECEIVING OPPOSED EDGES OF SAIDONE PANEL IN SAID SECOND POSITION, AND MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID ONEPANEL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN ITS TWO POSITIONS INCLUDING OPPOSED FLEXIBLETRACKS RECEIVING THE SAID EDGES OF SAID ONE PANEL IN ITS FIRST POSITIONAND DURING MOVEMENT BETWEEN ITS TWO POSITIONS.